Obit. furnished via Email by Pam Digges



ALL BUSINESS HOUSES CLOSE AS LAST RITES FOR PASTOR ARE HELD

All business transactions ceased and McComb stores were closed at 2 o'clock this afternoon in respect to the memory of Dr. John William Mayfield, 66, beloved pastor of the First Baptist church, for whom funeral services were held at 2:30. Dr. Mayfield succumbed at 11:40 Sunday morning after a week's illness which followed his collapse with a chill during his morning sermon Sunday, January 16. Pneumonia, developing last Wednesday, caused his death.

Grief extending far beyond the confines of the Baptist faith was felt over Mississippi as friends and brother ministers gathered here today to pay tribute to the life of Dr. Mayfield. He was president of the board of the board of trustees of Mississippi college.

Thousands of persons filed past his casket last night and this morning as it lay in state in the First Baptist church. Many braved a heavy downpour of rain last night to pay tribute to the beloved minister.

Many floral offerings, banked high about the altar attested to the high exteem with which he was held. Messages of condolence have poured into McComb from all over the South in testimony to the widespread popularity that naturally followed him wherever he went preaching the Gospel. Wherever he went he made friends of all who came in contact with him.

Always an optimist, Dr. Mayfield never hesitated in any undertaking that he felt would benefit his community and fellowman or promote Christianity. This spirit has made his church one of Mississippi's outstanding religious institutions.

An hour before the funeral services began the auditorium of the First Baptist church was completely filled, and as the announced hour for the rites approached, traffic was impassable in the vicinity of the church.


Headline for the picture reads

Paid Tribute in Last Rites Today

Dr. John W. Mayfield, pastor of the First Baptist church of McComb, who succumbed yesterday to pneumonia. Funeral rites were held at 2:30 this afternoon.



Dr. Mayfield came to McComb in February, 1922, undertaking at once
the construction of a new church building. Costing more thatn
$115,000, the beautiful edifice, largest Baptist church in south
Mississippi, stands a monument to his Christian zeal and his years of
indefatigable work for Christianity. In 1922 the First Baptist
church membership was 1110, and in less than a year 104 additions
were made. The membership continued increasing steadily until at his
death it totalled 1775.

The son of the late Mr. and Mrs. George Mayfield, of Covington
county, Dr. Mayfield was ordained to the Baptist ministry at the old
Union Baptist church in that county. He later enrolled in
Mississippi college, being graduated in 1907 with the degree of
bachelor of philosophy. In 1909 he received a bachelor of theology
degree from the Southern Baptist Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky, and
in 1929 Mississippi college conferred upon him the degree of doctor of divinty.

Prior to his coming to McComb, Dr. Mayfield was pastor at Southside
Baptist church, Meridian, 1909-11; at Wharton, Texas, 1911-13; Mart,
Texas, 1913-19; Brownsville, Texas, 1919-20; and Opelika, Alabama, 1920-22.

During his 16-year pastorate here, Dr. Mayfield was sought over
several southern states as an evangelist. He conducted revival
meetings in Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Tennessee, Alabama, and in
every section of Mississippi.

He was Mississippi representative on the relief annuity board of the
Southern Baptist Convention.

Dr. Mayfield is survived by his wife, the former Miss Joanna Tillson,
of Smith county; four sons, Curtis Mayfield, Canton; John W. Mayfield
Jr., Jackson; Carey Mayfield, Waco, Texas; Billy B. Mayfield, McComb;
one daughter, Miss Hassie Mayfield, New York City; one grandson,
Curtis Mayfield Jr., Canton; three brothers, J. I. and J. N.
Mayfield, Collins; and Jewell W. Mayfield, Tutwiler; two sisters,
Mrs. J. T. Alexander, Bay Springs; and Mrs. J. D. Huff, Laurel;
several nieces and nephews.

Dr. Mayfield, despite repeated warnings by his physician to conserve
his strength, continued active in church and community work to which
he had dedicated his life until one week before his passing. During
his morning sermon Sunday, January 16, he collapsed after a
chill. Pneumonia developed, and one week after his collapse, to the
exact minute, he succumbed. Physicians, nurses, and members of the
family sought tirelessly to sustain his life.

Shortly before his passing, Dr. Mayfield expressed the wish that his
funeral services be in charge of Dr. W. T. Lowery, professor of
Christianity at Mississippi college, Clinton. Dr. Lowery was
president of that institution when Dr. Mayfield was graduated in 1907.

Dr. D. M. Nelson, present head of the college, and all members of the
Southwest Mississippi Ministerial association assisted in the services.

Pall bearers, active and honorary, were the 31 members of the board
of deacons of the First Baptist church. They are L. Z. Dickey,
president; Judge W. F. Jackson, W. A. Williams, K. G. Price, J. E.
Gardner, I. E. Moak, J. R. Cannon, E. O. Murrell, W. H. Walsh, J.
Burton Alford, H. P. Moseley, Helmer P. Moseley, T. J. Gordon, A. B.
Williams, C. H. Douglas, H. L. Simmons, R. P. McCullough, Dr. W. F.
Cotten, J. C. McNees, V. C. Dickey, Judge F. D. Hewitt, Dr. M. D.
Ratcliff, Dr. L. W. Brock, Dr. Thomas Purser, W. F. Holmes, L. D.
Dodds, Dr. B. J. Hewitt, R. D. Brock, J. B. Middleton, J. A. Jones,
W. V. Johnson, and E. W. Gatlin.

Davis funeral home in charge.